School Overview

Beard School serves as an intervention school for the district. With a specialization in Early Childhood and Special Education, we have two different programs to support students Preschool through 3rd grade on one beautiful campus. With one of the largest preschool programs on the Northwest side of Chicago, our preschool program services over 350 four year olds. Our preschool programs offer a continuum of services which include General Education, Blended, and Intensive Support Programs meeting the needs of all students that are 3 or 4 years old. Our preschool programs emphasize play based and inquiry based learning to prepare students for kindergarten and to foster independence. Our second program, Kindergarten through 3rd grade, is a specialty school program that emphasizes the importance of early childhood interventions for academics and social-emotional growth, specifically for students with disabilities. Our highly trained teachers, all with special education and ESL endorsements, create individualized learning experiences in classrooms limited to 10 students, ensuring a low student-to-adult ratio. Comprehensive services include staff that are full time members providing to students the following services: speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, psychology and counseling. Our Unique curriculum adheres to Common Core Standards and utilizes methods like the Orton-Gillingham approach to enhance literacy and communication skills. Our Gold Circle of Quality rating from ExceleRate, Excelling in the Arts, and SEL and Restorative Practices designations from CPS reflect our commitment to excellence in educational standards. Our deidcation to student achievement is strengthened through professional development for staff, service leadership, and collaboration with our families and the community.